by MATTHEW HAYS

"I'm not an erotic fiction writer, really," Chris DiRaddo tells me. "Though there's nothing wrong with that."

It's an odd declaration, seeing as the Montreal publicist-about-town has just been published in Quickies 3, the latest in the popular fiction franchise from Arsenal Pulp Press.

In fact, despite it being his debut in the fiction-writer realm, DiRaddo is the only contributor to the anthology to have two stories included. And his entries, "Closet" and "When I See Him, Maybe I'll Know," are economically told, tight, funny and sexy - standing up well against the work of some of the more seasoned and prominent writers in the book, including Darrin Hagen and Sandip Roy. "I sent off the two stories," recalls DiRaddo, "and really didn't expect to get published. It's great to be included in such a vibrant collection of fiction."

Though not what he'd call erotic, DiRaddo concedes his stories do concern themselves with issues around sex and sexuality. "It's not beat-off material, it just happens to have sex in it. But to me, writing about sex is important. I find it fascinating, the role sex plays in our identity."

DiRaddo is now hard at work on his first novel (still untitled), a Slaughterhouse Five-esque, non-linear story about a gay man embarking on a new relationship while dealing with the impending death of a family member. DiRaddo says he'll continue doing publicity work, his bread and butter, while striving to complete the novel and shoot his first short film, a meditation on romantic relationships between gay francophones and gay anglophones.

"I guess some might see it as narcissistic, but I think there will always be a gay element to the things I write about."